Had that happened two years ago, let me predict what your post would have been today- "They shouldn't have hired some retread manager. They should have hired someone with fresh ideas."

Exactly.

__________________"I have the ultimate respect for White Sox fans. They were as miserable as the Cubs and Red Sox fans ever were but always had the good decency to keep it to themselves. And when they finally won the World Series, they celebrated without annoying every other fan in the country." Jim Caple, ESPN (January 12, 2011)

"We have now sunk to a depth at which the restatement of the (bleeding) obvious is the first duty of intelligent men." ó George Orwell

I don't think the manager makes a difference. The weak roster, offensively, limits most "fresh ideas" or stale ones any manager would have. Now if you want to play 6 infielders or let the pitchers bat, those may be still fresh ideas Robin can try. How about letting Reed pitch the first inning, then use a few set-up men in the 2nd and third then bring in the starter for 4-9? Another fresh idea that even this roster could accomodate

A number fans on this and other sites were leery of hiring the inexperienced Ventura.

And...? Does anyone seriously think a different manager would've been able to correct this mess?

Most of the pitching aside, the MLB roster is atrocious (and don't even get me started on our prospects). Heck, even with the pitching, I tend to think that there's only a handful of guys on this roster that other teams would be interested in having at the price we're paying.

As for Robin making these comments, he probably deserves some criticism for this. What changes can he make? With the exception of sending Dunn off with a one-way ticket to anywhere-but-here, what can he do?

Especially the position players- the fact that those injuries lead us to retread/AAAA players like Wise, Greene and Wells is a complete indictment of the KW Era (especially 2007-2012)- zero help at AA/AAA- so Hahn has to go to the scrap heap for reinforcements.

Add the worst DH in major league history (Dunn) and an overrated catching prospect (Flowers)- more KW moves- and this is one warm pile of crap of a team- 99% of this is at KW's doorstep.

My problem with Robin is he has a boring dull personality. He was hired because he was the exact opposite of Ozzie and now the team has taken on Robin's personality which is boring and plodding.

That still doesn't address Konerko's age, Adam Dunn, Jeff Keppinger, a bunch of injuries and the total mess Kenny Williams created and will create by getting kicked up stairs, but you can't fire the players but you can fire the coach.